A rare case of fungal keratitis: diagnosis and management

Elizabeth McElnea; Stephen Farrell; Breda Lynch; Ken Bishop; Dorinda Mullen; Andrew Borman; Gareth Higgins

doi:10.1099/jmmcr.0.000091

Volume 2, Issue 5

Case Report

Open Access

A rare case of fungal keratitis: diagnosis and management

Elizabeth McElnea¹, Stephen Farrell¹, Breda Lynch², Ken Bishop², Dorinda Mullen³, Andrew Borman⁴ and Gareth Higgins¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Waterford, Ardkeen, County Waterford, Ireland ² Microbiology Department, University Hospital Waterford, Ardkeen, County Waterford, Ireland ³ Pathology Department, University Hospital Waterford, Ardkeen, County Waterford, Ireland ⁴ Public Health England Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Myrtle Road, Bristol, UK
Correspondence Elizabeth M. McElnea [email protected]
Published: 09 October 2015 https://doi.org/10.1099/jmmcr.0.000091

Abstract

Introduction:

We report a case of keratitis caused by a member of the Phoma species of fungi.

Case presentation:

A 59-year-old contact lens wearer developed a non-healing corneal ulcer. Microbiological culture and subsequent PCR analysis were performed using samples obtained from corneal scraping. A fungus, phenotypically identified as a member of the Phoma species of fungi, was cultured. PCR from infected tissue confirmed the diagnosis.

Conclusion:

Although rarely pathogenic to humans, members of the ubiquitous Phoma species of fungi can occasionally cause keratitis. Corneal microtrauma associated with contact lens wear is probably important in precipitating such infections.

Received: 29/04/2015
Accepted: 12/08/2015
Published Online: 09/10/2015

Keyword(s): corneal graft , keratitis and Phoma fungi

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

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A rare case of fungal keratitis: diagnosis and management

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Volume 2, Issue 5

Case Report

Open Access

A rare case of fungal keratitis: diagnosis and management

Abstract

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